It is hard to believe this is not a conflict of interest. Even if he put his stock options in a blind trust, there is not much he can do to change the perception that he favors his own company. This is a longstanding problem in government service and the reason why capable executives turn down high Federal and State offices. It is a PR problem because citizens believe the worst of someone who is in a position to profit from his service, even if he is scrupulous about decisions he makes. The current administration is not attuned to conflicts of interest, and even the President has them but has been getting a pass by the media and voters. We shall have to see how the next holder of the office acts and whether he or she can re-establish a sense of morality and justice.